Firecrackers and red envelopes: Phuket’s CNY extravaganza
Phuket Old Town burst into life this morning, January 29, as Chinese Thais welcomed the Chinese New Year with vibrant celebrations, cultural traditions, and colourful altars.
From Thalang Road to Phang Nga Road and Phuket Road, families and businesses set up beautifully adorned altars brimming with offerings, embracing the festive spirit with renewed enthusiasm. Compared to recent years, this year’s celebrations saw a noticeable surge in participation.
At Jui Tui Shrine on Soi Phuthon, worshippers streamed in steadily, seeking blessings and honouring sacred traditions. Firecrackers crackled in the air, and devotees lit oil lamps, praying for prosperity in the year ahead. While fewer attendees donned traditional red clothing—symbolising wealth and joy—many balanced the celebration with work, completing rituals before returning to their daily routines.
Beyond the shrine, the festive atmosphere spread across Phuket Town. Families continued the age-old tradition of handing out red envelopes filled with money to children, symbolising good fortune and blessings. Meanwhile, Patong Municipality transformed the city for the occasion, decorating streets with glowing red lanterns and unveiling five prime photo spots for tourists:
- The Patong City sign on Patong Hill.
- A lantern archway at the Sea Pearl Hotel intersection.
- Bangla Square by Patong Beach.
- A red lantern pole at Laem Phet roundabout, near the Patong Beach sign.
- The Pearl roundabout.
Visitors are encouraged to explore these picturesque spots and capture the magic of Chinese New Year.
At Phuket Thaihua ASEAN Wittaya School in Wichit, celebrations took an educational turn, focusing on strengthening Thai-Chinese relations. Students immersed themselves in Chinese traditions, from tea-making and dumpling workshops to language games and virtual reality tours of iconic landmarks like the Great Wall.
Sombat Atiset, Chairperson of the Phuket branch of the Lok Sien Kok Charity Foundation, joined Vice Governor Ronnarong Thipsiri and Li Cheng Long, Deputy Consul-General of China, in commemorating the event, which also marked 50 years of Thai-Chinese diplomatic ties, reported The Phuket News.
From dazzling displays to hands-on cultural experiences, Phuket’s Chinese New Year celebrations showcased the deep-rooted traditions and festive spirit of the Chinese Thai community, ensuring a spectacular start to the Year of the Snake.
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